So many causes and conditions had to come together for 16th Street to become a reality and to evolve into the studio it has become today.

Back in the late 1970’s, when I was 21 years old, alongside of scores actors from around the world, I had the good fortune to study at The Drama Centre London. This cutting edge school (that broke away from the Central School of Speech and Drama) brought together the finest of the British, American and European traditions in actor training and found a skilful way of teaching actors how these methods and pedagogies worked together in harmony. It enabled actors to develop a genuine respect for the craft of acting and for the masters who taught it. The training I received at the Drama Centre all those years ago, had an enormous influence on me and has undoubtedly informed my vision for 16th Street Actors Studio. I learned the value of great acting teachers and directors, because at the Drama Centre, we were in the presence of artistic giants.

I have never been attracted to fundamentalism in anything including actor training, so as a young person as soon as I would hear the words explicitly spoken or implied that there was only one way something could or must be done, I would inevitably go in the opposite direction. But at the Drama Centre, we were shown there were many ways to reach the same destination. For my experience and training as an acting student at this remarkable school, I am forever grateful. It taught me the joy of finding one’s own way and using everything at one’s disposal in the process. It encouraged me to think, to lean into life with unbridled curiosity, to value discipline and to be grateful for a craft that would inform every aspect of my life.

Fast forward almost 30 years to 16th Street in Chelsea New York city. I was sent to study Practical Ascetics at The Atlantic Theatre Company School, by Maria Efthymiopoulos, the founder of 3 (now 2) Divas Casting. It was there that I met Jamie Zamudio, an Australian actor/producer who would be my initial partner in the creation of a vision we shared, to bring the world’s best acting teachers to Australia and to our studio. We began with our masterclass series; firstly with US master acting coach, Ivana Chubbuck and then with legend, Larry Moss. We were told we were mad to think that any professional actor would step back into a classroom as a student in front of their peers. I am glad we didn’t listen, instead we had the confidence in professional Australian actors and their hunger and desire to excel at their craft. While continuing to bring artists from around the world to Australia to conduct our masterclasses, 16th Street introduced a 1 year full time program, now in its 16th year and over the years as the studio has grown, we have developed a plethora of programs to nurture artistic inspiration and provide learning for actors, writers and directors at all stages of their creative development.

16th Street also has a not for profit foundation for our colleagues in the performing arts. Its mission is to support professional development by providing scholarships and grants and psychological and spiritual wellbeing through seminars and meditation training. 

In 2025 Company 16 will launch its own theatre company, so that graduates might have the possibility of working in repertory with Australia’s finest professional actors. I am grateful for the support of so many people, with Peter Cooper at the top of the list.

If you embrace the challenge that acting training and being an actor offers you with joy and dedication, demanding nothing in return, something good awaits you. Along the way, I wish you courage, generosity of spirit and an open heart. 16th Street looks forward to the next chapter of its story and we hope that you will be a part of it in some way.

- Kim Krejus
Artistic Director & Founder